The Grenada gazette., 1887-12-31
THE BSgotins Place Of u Curious Lodge 4.
New York Ciiy


New York CiiN
Old} Masons were. until late, of the
opinion that no such thing as a Chi.
nese Mason existed. One gentleman
said he had seen Arabs and Turks who
were good Masons, but to the best o,
his knowledge. no Chinaman was in
tic ordor. Noyarthc!esss, there are
not only Chinese Masons. but right
here in New York there is Chinese
Masonic lodge in full blast with a
membership Of over three hundred.
1t is a native organization. not allied
directly to tho Free and Accepted Ma.
sons, but said to be founded on princi.
pies very nearly aka.
Tho lodge-room is at No. 1s Mott
street. second floor. front, and has re-
Gently. been remoieled and rcfitted in
very good shape, all newly painted
and cleaned. The lodge furniture is
Of Chinese design, and imported
from China expressly for the
society at a great expense.
A tall flagstaff with rope for
running up colors is on top of the
building. Above tho door as ono en-
ters the lodge-room is a red sign In
native characters signifying ''Ghineso
Masonic Society,"" and down tho
sides are two long slips of red paper
bearing notices. One of these is ..Do
good to one another" and the other
relates to tho business of the order.
Tho interior is like most Chinese
quarters. only lighter. and not full of
odd turns and unsuspected corners.
Immediately on entering one is led
into sort Of ante-room and thence
into the main or lodge-room. At
the lowercnl Of this room is the altar.
and q verv valuable one it is, costing
in China 81 500. Above it is an alcoye
In which a colored drawing is sus.
pended 1t is not the least curious
thing in the place. the design being
three figures. one seated and two
others bending over his shoulder
The seated figure represents the ven.
erablc father Of Chinese Masonry. The
face is heavy. placid and adorned
with . long black beard. Tho
other two are respectively the spirits
of light and darkness who are sup
posed to be giving him counsel. In
front Of the altar lamp is hung. It
is never exiinguished, and burns in
comfnemoration of tho dead of the
ORDER Ano her emblem is two sticks
OF sandal-wo III punk thru at into box
ofsand. They keep smouldering away
and fill the air with faint but sweet
perfume.
On the wall is long board and on
this are pasted great number of
sheets of paper covered with Chinese
hieroglyphics. These are the lists Of
members vo ed N in the New York
lodge. Near the roster hangs two
hooks Oic OF these is sent oit from
the Supreme Lodge at San Francisco
and gives detailed account of mum.
ber Of cases Of those in distress and
sickness, and the whereabouts of each
ono who needs help. The other
is a subscription book in
which the various amounts Subscribed
arc entered. At intervals these two I
books and the amount raised are trans.
mittcd 10 the Supreme Lodge. from {
which tho dependent members are re.
ieved.
Meetings are not held upon regular I
lights, but Mt intervals decided upon
" tho dignitaries of tho order. rs tho
necessities of busines' may demand. =
The members are notified of meetings. l
leld generally on Sunday nights, by 0
no appearance of triangular flag at 9
he top Of the lol" on top Of The house. I
This flag is white, and bears tho a
'icture of huge rod dragon with its II
nil towards the point. There are P
rips. signs and passwords, exactly as 81
an American lodge. '1'he travelling ?
ard Of this society is quite curiosi. II
in itsclL 1t is square of red silk a
,scribed with Chinese characters, and n
document highly priced by all its n
osscssors. IN y World. II